Book on N. Srinivasan, Vice- Chairman & MD, India Cements

5.1.2019

The India Cements Ltd released a Coffee Table Book on the seven decades of growth Journey and 50 years of Association of Mr. N.Srinivasan, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director with the Company

" It is my dream project, proud moment in my second innings with India Cements"

V. Balasubramanian

My joy knew no bounds on 28.12.2018 when the Coffee Table Book from India Cements was released at a colourful function. It was a proud moment in my second innings with this great organisation. I worked so hard with lot of passion in the last two years in bringing out the book with the blessing of our beloved MD and support of top management.

As a journalist of 35 years experience, i focused on collecting information and photos relating to Company, hundreds of photos, doing interviews,  preparing write ups and sharing them with the book writer, going through the drafts with the management, cross verifying the information and data and working with the designer on the project. 

The Book, highlights the growth journey of Company over the last seven decades and  chronicles the 50 (1968-2018) years of proud association of Mr. N. Srinivasan, Vice- Chairman & Managing Director,  with the Company and the remarkable journey of both in the development and administration of sport.

The book, written by Ms.Kalyani Candade, a professional writer, and designed by Malvika Mehra, was released by Thiru Edappadi K Palaniswami, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at a big function in the evening  at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai  on 28.12.2018.

The first copy was received by Chennai Super Kings Captain, M S Dhoni.

 The function  was attended by a galaxy of cricketers including legendary captains of India,   Ministers, top officials, bankers, CEOs of cement Companies, captains of industry from Tamil Nadu and other parts of India,  Sports administrators, sports persons , political leaders, Trade union leaders,  senior executives and employees of India Cements, dealers, vendors and suppliers.

  

The galaxy of legendary cricketers present on the occasion spoke volume of contribution of India Cements to the game of cricket.

MD as Tennis champion 

Thr year 2018 marked 50 years since Srinivasan returned from his higher studies in the USA to take pivotal position in India Cements in early 1968 after the sudden demise of  his father, T S Narayanaswami.

 In highlighting 50 years of association of  Srinivasan with the organisation, the book has rightly captured his many facets as a sportsman, an able sports administrator, a die-hard industrialist, a lovable  family man, a gold hearted philanthropist and the great institutions he has  built.

The book captures the childhood days of Srinivasan, his shining star as a Tennis Champion at the age of 16, his joining the Company in 1968 at the age of 23, how he fought the takeover of India Cements by ITC in early eighties, his return in September 1989 as MD, the series of takeovers he made, his steering various industry bodies like CMA, Madras Chamber, FICCI, All India Employers' Organisation, sports bodies like TNCA, BCCI, ICC, TN Golf Federation, All India Chess Federation, birth of Chennai Super Kings and CSR activities of India Cements.

MD's daughter, Mrs. Rupa Gurunath, Whole Time Director,  belonging to the third generation, said,” India Cements is fortunate to have a visionary at its helm. ICL and my father have always been ahead of their times. Pushing boundaries, challenging convention, defying the paradigm time and again. 50 years of an extraordinary journey.  As we face the next decade, we will continue the quest”

The book narrates  the journey of India Cements, starting with the birth of the company in 1946 in pre independent India. It talks of the dynamic role played by the founders in the industrial resurgence in free India.

It further goes on to capture the essence of the man that is Srinivasan, his struggles and triumphs in building up the India Cements Limited, and the remarkable journey of both in the development and administration of sport. It talks of the triumphant journey from TNCA all the way upto ICC and the birth of Chennai Super Kings.

Proud History of India Cements

The Chennai based India Cements has a proud history and heritage. It  was founded in 1946 by two visionary founders and enterprising entrepreneurs - SNN Sankaralinga Iyer (1901-1972) and TS Narayanaswami (1911-1968) when political freedom was around the corner.

The company was indeed a pioneer enterprise during the pre-independence era to become a public limited company. Its first annual report appeared on April 21, 1947.

The Founders had the courage and confidence to go in for a public issue of Rs 1 crore in 1946 (which was oversubscribed) even before India gained independence. It was a courageous challenge to start and run a cement company in the World War years, when even the smallest spare part had to be shipped all the way from Denmark.

The journey started with a cement factory in Talaiyuthu, an almost unmapped tiny village in Tirunelveli, which over the years grew to become a self-contained township at Sankarnagar.

From modest beginnings in 1949, when Sankar Cement made its first appearance in the market, India Cements has grown hugely in stature and reputation into a multifaceted organisation.

India Cements has been an integral part of the Century old Indian cement industry that made its humble beginning in 1914. If the independent era opened up new vistas of opportunities for the cement industry with emphasis on growth and infrastructure development, the complete decontrol on cement in 1989 and the economic liberalisation in 1991 have accelerated the industry’s growth.

Shri T. S. Narayanaswami, at the helm of India Cements was constantly looking for new worlds to conquer. In addition to expanding cement capacity by setting up the second plant at Sankaridurg in Salem, he had the knack of spotting opportunities and forayed into shipping, aluminum, chemicals and plastics. In fact, he founded the first shipping company in the south through South India Shipping Corporation.

Building on the strong foundation laid by the Founders, the Company has rapidly grown in the last two decades through a series of brownfield and greenfield expansions, contributing significantly to building a stronger India. The premium brands of the Company are proudly associated with many landmark projects.

Rapid growth under the leadership of MD

The growth of the company after total decontrol in 1989 can be directly traced to the dynamic leadership of Mr. N. Srinivasan, his vision and intuitive knowledge of the market.

Under his dynamic leadership India Cements has grown from two plants with a capacity of 1.3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in 1989 to 10 cement plants with a capacity of 15.55 MTPA and  has transformed the company into one of the top 10 cement companies in the country.

Sporting Tradition

The book also highlights the long sporting tradition of India Cements since early sixties and its  rich contribution to the development of sports and sports persons.

India Cements’ journey with cricket started as early as 1965 with one cricket team, “Jolly Rovers”. The legacy of the 60s continued to fuel the passion for cricket that burnt higher and stronger in later years.

Srinivasan’s journey to the apex body of international cricket began one  afternoon in 1995 when he decided to contest in the TNCA elections and lost. It was a challenge he couldn’t walk away from.

It was the beginning of a very remarkable journey, one that changed not only the way the game was played but added immeasurably to the fundamentals that defined cricket at that time : infrastructure, player well being and opportunities for players to grow. As Vice President and later as President of TNCA he ushered in many significant changes that would translate into better cricket and greater opportunities for new talent. His capability and vision didn’t go unnoticed. He then went on to join the BCCI as treasurer in 2005.

During his tenure in BCCI, the board saw a slew of reforms that transformed the face of the game in the country. In 2014 he went on to become the Chairman of the restructured ICC. As head of the board of directors, it was a powerful role and the BCCI was put at the forefront of world cricket.

CSR activities of India Cements

As a responsible corporate citizen, India Cements has been supporting CSR activities for a long time now, even before it was made mandatory by law.  As highlighted in the book, the Company has cared for welfare of its employees, touched lives of people in and around the plants through schools, college, polytechnic, sports facilities, temple renovations, building shelters, sports infrastructure, providing drinking facilities, conducting health camps, free cataract surgeries, free spectacles, free meals, old age homes and sponsoring visit to pilgrim centres by aged couples.

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